Story by Rick Watson:
I think I’ve wanted a Jeep for as long as I can remember. I wanted a CJ model, not a pick-up or the wagon like Chuck Carpenter had, although with a ski-pole shoved down over the shifter, it was transformed into a “cool” rig. I wanted one of those CJ’s, like all the old army movies had. I wanted one to drive on the beach and on sand dunes. I wanted one to go off road on old logging roads and go camping and such. I had a metal toy Jeep, GI Joe had a Jeep. Even Barbie had a Jeep, they’ve always been cool.
I think the first one I ever road in was home from the town skating rink with the high school kid who ran it. I don’t know his name, but I used to help out there after school, probably he got paid, and I did the work. I was probably 10 or 12. Hanging out with a high school kid was cool, and I liked to skate. He offered me a ride home in it one time and I jumped at the chance. Imagine if some of my friends happened to see me with this older kid riding around! He used to park it on the snowbank at the rink, not beside it, but actually up on the top of the bank…cool. He had a license plate or plates fastened to the floor to cover up the rust holes, and it was probably no warmer inside than out, except perhaps for the wind chill factor.
I used to walk by the “best” Jeep out to camp. It was on the way to my best friend Tiger Halls camp. John Hawes owned it. It was black, had a convertible top, a snowplow, and a winch. It was beautiful. He used it mostly just to plow his driveway and once in a while to go to a hunting camp he had up north. Exactly the way I imagined I’d use my Jeep. If only I had my license. Johns’ kids, Ann and Jay, were the first hippies I ever met. They were Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin to me. They burned incense and had day-glo posters in their basement where Jay played the electric guitar. I don’t remember if he was good or not, but he was loud! Ann wore rose colored sunglasses and peasant dresses and flowers in her hair most of the summer. The basement was the hangout for the cool kids, and I unfortunately missed the 60’s by being too young. I was a wanna-be. I bring this up for 2 reasons. The first is even the hippies had a Jeep. The 2nd is I almost lost this very Jeep to Jay.
I noticed the Jeep still sat where it always had, but didn’t move anymore. It was now about 1990. I still was at camp summers. Tiger had long since moved. Jay and Ann and families were in Alaska, … where else? (Vermont maybe.) I approached John about the old Jeep there…does it still run? Ever think about selling it? To my chagrin Jay wanted to take it to Alaska, and who could blame him? Alaska is perfect Jeep country.
Time passed and the Jeep didn’t move. The next summer I inquired again. Well, he might let it go for about $1500.00. That was about $1500.00 more than the Jeep looked like it was worth at that point. I guessed I’d have to pass, after all that time. Another season came and went, the convertible top had stopped keeping out the elements a long time ago. Rust, mildew, flat tires, old gas, plastic windows you could no longer see out of, you get the idea. Luckily Alaska was too far to either ship or drive the Jeep.
The call came. Are you still interested in the “old Jeep?” Well maybe, how much?
“The clutch is stuck from sitting and it doesn’t have brakes. How about $500.00?” Sold.
As is typical, I viewed the Jeep in my mind as it was in the 1960’s. I had the Jeep I actually bought hauled to the local garage for brakes and such. It was better than junk. I did a clutch, a battery and brakes and some wiring and took the top off and put in fresh gas and oh yeah, exhaust…fixed the lights, patched some rust and like magic, it was better than junk, but not much better.
I probably have about a thousand dollars in the Jeep now. I found a metal top in Uncle Henrys for $150.00, a convertible top is about $700.00 now. I have plowed with it for close to 10 years at this point. I plowed with it today. It plowed without hesitation, the “blizzard of 2005.” I pushed snow into piles higher than the Jeep itself. It is an awesome piece of utility vehicle. It is waaaay better than junk.
I’ve thought about restoring it before. They make every part of it, like the Model A or Model T, or the Mustang. I could even buy a brand new metal body for it. I could in fact restore it back to its original splendor. This one is even rare. It is the Hawaiian Tropic model from 1963. That means it started life pink. Like Barbies Jeep. Like all those hotels in the tropics used in the old Elvis movies. Now, how cool is that? It has chrome all over it. It has a chrome grab bar on the dash, chrome hinges for the windshield and hood. It has chrome hub caps and headlamp bezels. It could be a real show piece. Maybe even a set of wide whitewalls just like in those old movies. Maine, however was not ready for a pink Jeep, so it was painted black for John. It was the only interested party they’d had,apparently, so a black paint job was quickly applied. Quickly applied to even the seats as they were/are pink pleated leatherette under that black paint.
But then I thought, why? I’d have $10,000 dollars in it then. I wouldn’t be able to plow snow anymore. ( I really think I could push snow to the moon if I could get traction.) I would never take it into the woods where it would get scratched. I would have a Jeep I couldn’t use. I would seldom if ever get to hear that Jeep sound. It is kind of a winding sound. I don’t know if it is from the engine, transmission, or transfer case, but is a sound only Jeep has. Daimler should have gotten a patent on that sound. It is a unique sound like a Harley Davidson, or like a Model A or Model T, but instead they yuppied up the Jeep with independent suspension and good heaters and stereos and such.
No, I have a Jeep now 40+ years old that I get to use in the absolute worst weather we get. It always starts. Its short wheelbase makes it ideal for my “complicated” driveway. I have nowhere to push the snow, so there’s a lot of back and forth action. I keep the windows open so that the fumes don’t get too strong. I really don’t use the heater anymore. It seemed to just keep the inside warm enough to melt snow and keep it humid enough to cloud the windows. It never really kept it warm or the windows defrosted. The wipers work, but I don’t use them either. They never really kept the windshield clear of snow. I get out occasionally and wipe the snow off with gloved hand. It works just fine.
I have been asked before by some of the “extended-cab, 4X4, single lever control Fisher plow, leather heated seat, CD player” type if I’m still using that “old Jeep” to plow with? They apparently get a “kick” out of seeing me out plowing. I guess my answer is. “What else would I use?”
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Rick Watson
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Great stories always get answers and you last update was done on my birthday, Nov 28th. This past year I bought a CJ-5 1960 which my wife found and wanted. The vehicle is an old one which had been used on a ranch/hunting facilities. It has spend considerable time outside in the rain, deep rust in the rear fender wells and back bed. Spray can paint with a very rough tow wiring installed. Just plain used up and discarded. Brakes needed complete rebuild and emergency brake complete system missing. Steering loose goody at best. Clogged radiator and electrical wiring really need help. Tires and rims needing lug nuts, lug studs, and tires. Fuel tank and system are probably rusted, clogged, and do not work. Steering column indicates a box rebuild. And so on. . . . . . .
Really had nothing going for it except the engine does turnover.
Something about the Jeep stance said, “Help me, Help me! I need help!” I bought it! No room for proper storage except on the back covered patio. Yes, it has become a fixture back there waiting for the day I can get to restoring it. My old hobby was rearing it face again to do one last restore job.
I will start this fall (not work it during the winder; too cold! And pick it up in the Spring. Thanks for the great story and motivation; you also must share the blame of getting me back into restoring cars. Always one last restoration project left in me.
Thanks,
Steve Hurt
Awakened my old 1966 Cj 5 from 11 years of sleep in the barn this week. the dauntless v6 is turning free, needs clutch and tires radiator hoses , brake service etc…. here we go..
Ditto the great story comments ! I recently purchased a 63 CJ5. I know I paid too much for it but like most of the people posting here I had wanted a Jeep for a long time. 29,000 miles and it is still all stock. Looking forward to some plowing and fun in the snow with this one also.
Take all and Merry Christmas to All, Shawn
Great story Rick,
We have a 67 CJ5 that we found in the pennysaver a year ago or so and like you wanted to keep it as stock as possible. I have had it down to the frame and redid every thing. The V6 dautless was in good shape we thought until I tore it down to find a cracked head. Rebuild the hole thing a voice said and so I did. The trans and tranfer had water in them so another voice said fix it. Now we are poor after going through the entire jeep. It’s been a long year and a half but well worth the wait. I have just finished painting and ready to drop the tub back on the chassis. Haven’t started it yet waiting to mount the grill and radiator.
We will submit our pictures after it can roll out of the garage on it’s own. Good luck with your ride and glad to hear people still like to rebuild some old school jeeps and leave some rubber on the road.
Rick I agree with you 100% we need to get the kids involved. Nephews and nieces in my case. My jeep is a 67 cj-5 that is 95% stock. It had a plow and a red paint job when I got it. Now is back to turquoise with the kaiser baby moon hubcaps. the whole family loves it…but nobody more than the kids!
Great story Rick. I’m glad you made it roadworthy. I’m restoring a 1966 CJ5 that I bought a few years ago. I have daughters and granddaughters who want it. I am keeping it near stock-no heater or air conditioner. In Arizona that limits the driving season! When I can’t drive it I will enjoy looking at it parked safely in the garage (which is air conditioned).
Great story Rick, and you are right we need to preserve these old work horses for our future generations, hopefully my old 46 CJ2A will be teaching the third generation to drive next summer.
Hi All, let me explain a little about the story. I wrote it when I was newsletter editor for the Maine Region AACA back in 2005. This past spring my daughter, now 16, got after me to get the Jeep out and to restore it back to it’s original color. We did. We restored it to driver quality as I really want the kids to be able to drive it all summer, on dirt roads and logging roads and if it gets a scratch-so what? We reupholstered it back to the original Indian Ceramic and found the original color paint on the web. It is painted single stage acrylic enamel and looks great. Full chrome Jeep wheelcovers, radial tires and no big stereo or lift kits or big tires, tube bumpers etc. It’s just the way it was built. I don’t have a problem at all with you customizing your Jeep, I just wanted to see this one stock. The winch works fine. The body is still tender underneath, but it’s being enjoyed by the next generation now and I feel strongly that we need to involve the younger folks in order to keep the hobby going. Best regards, Rick.
I’ll try to find a few more pictures too.